SOU hires interim women's soccer coach

Thursday

Oct 3, 2013 at 12:10 AMOct 3, 2013 at 3:10 AM

Southern Oregon University has hired a new interim women's soccer coach while the team's regular head coach remains on administrative after a university-investigation into his conduct was initiated early this month.

By Sam Wheeler

ASHLAND — Southern Oregon University has hired a new interim women's soccer coach while the team's regular head coach remains on administrative after a university-investigation into his conduct was initiated early this month.

Head coach Jon Clement, who was hired at SOU in 2006, has not practiced or traveled with the team since Sept. 10, but it is unclear why he was placed on administrative leave, because SOU officials won't say.

SOU Athletic Director Matt Sayre would not confirm whether Clement is still being investigated by the university, but said he remains on administrative leave from his position.

"In time we'll be able to say more," Sayre said.

New interim head coach Jennifer Rosenberg is a former assistant women's soccer coach at California State University Stanislaus.

Rosenberg graduated from Ashland High School in 1998 and played soccer at SOU for one year before transferring to Merced Community College and then to the university in Stanislaus, where she finished her career and became a coach in 2009, according to Sayre and compiled newspaper reports.

On Oct. 30, according to a report from the Modesto Bee, Rosenberg announced to her team at Stanislaus that she was leaving to become head coach at SOU.

Rosenberg arrived in Ashland on Monday, Sayre said, and is practicing with the team.

Clement did not return voice messages left on his cell phone this week.

This is the second time he has been investigated by the university.

In 2007, a series of complaints from players alleged Clement exuded a pattern of favoritism and poor communication that led to a division on the team, and two players said Clement arranged private social meetings that made them feel uncomfortable.